After the political adjustment the crosses were counted by enthusiasts from Šiauliai. They located 14 387 big crosses (1 112 from them were 3-4 meters high, 130 even greater) as well as about 41 000 little crosses (smaller sized than 0.5 meters).

Each site visitor tries to leave a rosary or a cross. If he has actually not brought any kind of, he makes one exactly on capital, from stones, little branches or grass.

Cross is a sign of love
The Hill of Crosses is a sacred place in the Šiauliai region with specifically huge rooms for reflections of faith and also indications of one, s love to God. It is right here that Lithuania has gone through Golgotha, its people have experienced a lot pain and also misfortunes. Specifically below revives the sincerest idea in our Saviours sacrifice, love discovers reaction in one, s heart, hopes ended up being stronger. “For God so enjoyed the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth in him must not perish, yet have eternal life” (Jn 3, 16). Cross is a symbol of such Love.

The Soviet federal government took into consideration the crosses and also the hill a hostile and also unsafe icon. In 1961 wooden crosses were broken and also melted, steel ones used as scrap metal and rock and also concrete crosses were broken and also hidden. In spite of all these endeavors to quit people from checking out the Hill, crosses would come back after each night.

The monastery of the Hill of Crosses
In 1994 throughout his browse through to a Franciscan abbey of the mount of Verna (Italy), the Pope John Paul II encouraged the brothers to develop a monastery by the Hill of Crosses. It is built 300 meters away from the Hill as well as has sixteen cells.

The crosses were first counted by Ksywicki in 1900. In historical chronicles he composed that there were 130 crosses on capital. 2 years later there were currently 155 crosses. After words War I, in 1922 there were 50 crosses but in 1938– already over 400. In 1961 the Soviet government knocked down over 5000 crosses, by 1975– 1200 crosses extra.

Location
Capital of Crosses is located in the middle of a cultivable land, sixteen kilometers from Šiauliai. It is seen from Šiauliai– Ryga freeway. The hill is 60 meters long as well as 40-50 meters vast.

Background
The crosses on the Hill were first stated in written narrates in 1850, however it is believed that the initial crosses were put by the relatives of the targets of the disobedience in 1831 as the tsarist federal government did not permit the households to recognize their deads effectively. Crosses of the kind became a lot more countless after the various other disobedience in 1863.

Number of crosses
It is hard to think of numerous crosses in one location. But all these crosses tell us about public and also personal catastrophes as well as misfortunes. For instance one cross was put after the accident of the ferry “Estonia”.

The Hill of Crosses, where individuals not only from Lithuania have placed crosses for pair centuries, witnesses faithfulness and also trust fund of a Christian area to Christ and his Cross. In 1961 the Soviet government destroyed over 5000 crosses, by 1975– 1200 crosses more.

At first of the 20th century the Hill of Crosses was already extensively referred to as a sacral area. In addition to many explorers seeing, it was additionally a place for Masses and devotions. Capital of Crosses became of unique relevance during Soviet times– this was the location of anonymous but unexpected perseverance to the routine. The Soviet government considered the crosses and also the hill a hostile as well as unsafe icon. In 1961 wood crosses were broken and melted, steel ones utilized as scrap steel and also rock and concrete crosses were damaged and hidden. Capital itself was many times destroyed with excavators. During the 1973– 1975 duration about half a thousand crosses utilized to be knocked down each year without also trying to do this covertly. Later the strategies became much more refined: crosses were knocked down as having no artistic worth, various “epidemics” were revealed prohibiting individuals ahead into the area or the roads were blocked by authorities. The Hill was secured by both the Soviet military and KGB. In 1978 and 1979 there were some attempts to flood the area. In spite of all these ventures to stop people from going to capital, goes across would reappear after each night.

The Pope was extremely touched by the cross with the prayer for his wellness after the effort upon his life in 1981. In his sermon throughout the Holy Mass his Eminence said: “Sons as well as little girls of your country have actually been carrying to this Hill crosses, similar to that of Golgotha, which saw our Saviour, s death. Cross is a sign of everlasting life in God”.

Spiritual definition
Capital of Crosses, where individuals not just from Lithuania have put crosses for couple centuries, witnesses faithfulness as well as trust fund of a Christian area to Christ and his Cross. This is an expression of a spontaneous religiousness of the people, as well as is a sign not of sorrow as well as fatality but of Sacrifice, love and also faith. From here the Pope honored all individuals of Lithuania and all of Christian Europe.

In 1997 the Church revived devotions on the Hill. They happen every year on the last yet one Sunday of July. Nowadays the Hill of Crosses is under the patronage of Šiauliai diocese, developed on the 28 th oh May, 1997.